It is green season in the Four Seasons

LuciAnne Nguyen, News Assistant Editor

When people think of sustainability, some tend to think that changing the planet involves important world leaders or large scale protests. However, it can be quite the opposite, as making a difference can happen within someone’s backyard. On September 28, 2021, the Community Climate Action Plan, otherwise known as the CCAP, was approved for the city of Cedar Rapids. In light of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, many cities like Cedar Rapids are showing how they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote access to basic needs for local citizens. The CCAP will have a focus on building resilience to climate hazards, especially when it comes to mitigating flooding in Cedar Rapids. Many programs have stemmed out of the CCAP, one being the early version of the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program. Through this program, the city of Cedar Rapids encourages citizens to log their sustainability efforts in the community, which can include picking up litter or growing flowers for bees. In doing so, this program promotes the community working together as one, as well as putting a focus on sustainability at a local level. Anyone who is a homeowner of Cedar Rapids can participate in this program. Eric Holthaus, Sustainability Program Manager of Cedar Rapids, commented on why he believes the program is important in an interview with the Gazette. “We want to build excitement from  neighborhood to neighborhood — what does this neighborhood do well, how about that neighborhood, actively have some friendly competitions as time goes on to keep raising the bar,” Holthaus said. The CCAP has two main goals, one of them being to make Cedar Rapids a carbon-free city. This includes clean air, low-emission public transportation and more with the aim being that, within 15 minutes of walking, residents are able to meet their basic needs. The second part of this plan includes making the city resilient and accessible, which means that all residents have access to healthy food and water, as well as neighborhoods that help each other out. Xavier junior Michelle Favorite is a part of the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program and gives her insight on why sustainability is important. “The reason that I signed up for this [the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program] over the summer was because I have always been interested in environmental impact and how it can affect our future and how it is going to affect our communities as well,”Favorite said. Quarterly updates on this program will be given to neighborhood associations in order to share progress within the community. On the Cedar Rapids’ city website, a dashboard is displayed that tracks sustainability efforts and neighborhood participation. The staff plans to develop an initiative to shine a light on residents who go above and beyond in the SustainableNeighborhoods Program. Efforts to create a Sustainable Business Program are in the works for the coming years as well.Ideas such as being more energy efficient and using green infrastructure will be brought about in planning. To track all efforts for the community and to access educational resources, visit cedar- rapids.org/sustainability under the Community Climate Action Plan tab.